What to eat, what to play, where to go in Saigon in December - All you need to know in the Saigon travel guide 2023 from A-Z.

Ho Chi Minh City is a melting pot of many cultures, with a diverse range of tourist products, being the "sleepless city" with vibrant entertainment activities both day and night.
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Beautiful Seasons

Ho Chi Minh City is located in the tropical monsoon region near the equator. The common feature of the weather here is consistently high temperatures throughout the year, with two distinct seasons: rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to April. The average temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius, with highs reaching over 40 degrees Celsius, but generally, the sun is not harsh, the humidity is low, and it is cooler in the evening.
The heat is not as severe as in the northern weather, so visitors can visit the city at any time of the year. If coming during the rainy season, it's advisable to prepare an umbrella to avoid sudden showers.

Traveling to Ho Chi Minh City

Being a large city, traveling to Ho Chi Minh City is convenient, with full modes of transport including planes, trains, boats, and cars...
Domestic airlines operate direct flights to Tan Son Nhat Airport from many localities every day. Ho Chi Minh City has the highest frequency of arrivals and departures in the country. Round trip tickets to Ho Chi Minh City range from 2 to 4 million VND, depending on the departure location and time of ticket purchase.
Tan Son Nhat Airport is located in Tan Binh District, about 8 km from the center (District 1) and about 5 km from District 3 and Phu Nhuan District. Currently, the traditional taxi fare from Tan Son Nhat Airport to the city center is around 250,000 VND. Visitors can book technology cars for about half the price (not during peak hours). One tip is to walk to the international terminal to book a car, as it will be faster than waiting at the domestic terminal.
With trains, the fastest Thong Nhat train connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City currently takes 30 hours, stopping at major stations like Vinh - Dong Hoi - Hue - Da Nang. Visitors should purchase tickets at reputable agents or directly through the dsvn.vn website, choosing the departure and arrival stations, type of seat or sleeping bed as needed. Ticket prices vary depending on the cabin and seat type.
The road connecting the south and north has two main routes: National Highway 1A and Ho Chi Minh Trail. Depending on the needs and destinations along the journey, visitors can choose the appropriate route.

Getting Around Ho Chi Minh City

Getting around the city is convenient, with many modes of transport. Renting a motorbike is one of the most popular options. Most accommodations support motorbike rentals, or visitors can look for rentals through online addresses, especially in the central areas. The rental price for one day varies by type of vehicle, ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 VND. Some places require a deposit of 1 to 4 million VND, while others only need to hold your ID card.
Additionally, moving by technology cars (cars or motorbikes) in Ho Chi Minh City is also a convenient option. However, if moving continuously, it can become costly.
Public transport is a reasonable choice when looking to save costs. Visitors can choose buses or public bicycles (in the central area). Public bicycles were launched in December 2021. Bike rental stations are located on sidewalks along many streets in District 1, close to bus stops, shelters, parks, and tourist spots... with prices of 5,000 VND for 30 minutes and 10,000 VND for 60 minutes.

Accommodation

Accommodation services in Ho Chi Minh City are diverse with hotels, homestays, and serviced apartments meeting visitors' needs. Rooms can be found ranging from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of VND per night.
Many 5-star hotels range from 3 to 7 million VND such as Park Hyatt Saigon, Hotel Majestic Saigon, Hotel des Arts Saigon, Pullman Saigon Centre, Hotel Nikko Saigon, Norfolk Mansion, La Vela Saigon.
In the mid-range 1-2 million VND range, visitors can refer to hotels like Wink Hotel Saigon Centre, La Memoria Hotel, The Hammock Hotel Ben Thanh, Millennium Boutique Hotel, The Odys Boutique Hotel.
Serviced apartments come fully furnished like regular apartments but are beautifully decorated to suit travel needs. Some recommended addresses include Ariosa, The Bloom, City Oasis, S Home, M Village Boutique. The serviced apartments range from 800,000 VND to 2 million VND.
Homestays are priced under 1 million VND per room. Some central homestay addresses include Nấp Saigon, Home, Hostie Saigon Wanderlust Home, Cactusland Homestay, Zooz Studio.
Additionally, there are many other budget guesthouses. Visitors can refer to book rooms on Agoda or Booking.

Tourist Activities and Entertainment

Ho Chi Minh City's tourism orientations have each district, town with a tourist product. The city gathers a variety of entertainment activities, amusement parks, attractions, and shopping suitable for many customer segments.

Take a river bus
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Experiencing the river is a feature of Ho Chi Minh City tourism. Visitors get to see the city from a different perspective, passing by famous landmarks such as Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Nghe Port, Phu My Bridge, Ho Chi Minh Light House, and Binh Khanh Ferry.
The river bus departs daily at 8:30 AM from Bach Dang Wharf, Binh An, Linh Dong, Thanh Da, and Hiep Binh Chanh. The night bus departs at the latest at 10 PM. Tickets can be booked online or purchased directly at the wharf for 15,000 VND per trip.

Dinner on a cruise ship
Cruise ships depart every evening from Saigon port, taking guests to tour along the river, admire the night beauty of Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Nghe Port, Saigon Bridge, Landmark 81... Visitors can experience dining on the cruise with ticket prices ranging from 350,000 VND to over a million VND, depending on the type of cruise. The buffet features both Asian and European styles or combo meals. The cruise ship also has artistic programs featuring music and dance performances, and magic.
Additionally, visitors can fully book a small cruise ship with a capacity of about 20 people, priced from 10 million to 25 million VND.
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Scenic views from a double-decker bus
The city center has a double-decker open-top bus. The bus has an automatic multilingual guide system that provides guidance about the landmarks along the route, tourist maps, free wifi, and tour guides. Each trip lasts about 60 minutes, passing by famous spots like Thao Cam Vien, War Remnants Museum, Bui Vien Walking Street, Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the city theater, and ending with a view of the city from above at the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower.
The bus operates from 9 AM to 10:30 PM daily, with a departure every 30 minutes. In the evening, the bus offers a luxury dinner cruise package along the Saigon River. Tickets can be purchased directly at the counter at the departure point 92-96 Nguyen Hue, District 1, or booked online.

Strolling in the park
Thao Cam Vien has existed for over 150 years and is the 8th oldest zoo in the world. Originally, it was a botanical garden serving the conservation of flora and fauna for the city's population and a research place for scientists. Currently, Thao Cam Vien has over 1,000 animal individuals, over 2,000 trees belonging to 260 species, 23 indigenous orchid species, and 33 cactus species covering an area of 17 ha. The campus here is fresh, suitable for relaxation.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City has many other beautiful parks and green spaces such as Tao Dan, Hoang Van Thu, Le Van Tam, Gia Dinh.

Listening to live music
Sipping a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while enjoying live music is one of the experiences in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the evening. Live music venues have long attracted many locals and visitors. In the evening, each place offers a unique music style, from energetic rock, improvisational jazz, gentle acoustic to deep love songs.
Some recommended addresses include Ben Thanh Tea Room, We, Khong Ten, Dong Dao. Acoustic bars or cafes: Yoko Cafe, Rock Fan Club, Sax N’ Art Jazz Club, Acoustic Bar, Drinking & Healing, Vừng.

Experiencing Phu Tay Street
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The local people and tourists often refer to the area of Bui Vien - De Tham - Pham Ngu Lao, District 1 as Phu Tay Street, operating from the evening until the early morning. This street includes many free public amenities such as restrooms, wifi connectivity, and tourist information stations. The area is suitable for young people, tourists, especially foreigners. Hundreds of cafes, bars, pubs, and food stalls line both sides of the street, always creating a lively atmosphere. The street also has many tour sale points.

Exploring the life and cuisine of Chinatown
The Chinatown area includes Districts 5, 6, and 11, but the most bustling and well-known is District 5. Along the streets of Tran Hung Dao, Chau Van Liem, Luong Nhu Hoc... visitors will see rows of ancient houses with traditional Chinese architecture approximately 100 years old. There are also many ancient temples, assembly halls, and typical restaurants of the Chinese community. Dishes not to be missed include roasted duck, pha lau, curry fish balls, pulled noodles, herbal chicken, dim sum...
Luong Nhu Hoc Lantern Street is one of the attractive spots during the Mid-Autumn Festival, especially at night when colorful and uniquely shaped lanterns adorn the street, creating a dazzling view. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Street is also a place that contributes to the distinctive image here. For a long time, Chinese merchants have transported medicinal materials for trade, gradually forming a bustling area of herbal medicine as seen today.

Historical Sites

Not only a dynamic young city, Ho Chi Minh City also preserves many cultural and historical values. There are many monuments and museums in the city known to domestic and foreign visitors.

Independence Palace
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Independence Palace, also known as Reunification Palace, is one of the must-visit attractions when visiting Ho Chi Minh City. Located in the heart of District 1, the Independence Palace is both ancient and modern, having long become one of the city's symbols. On weekends or during major holidays like April 30, the Independence Palace is usually crowded with visitors.
The entrance fee to the main building and the "From Norodom Palace to Independence Palace 1868 - 1966" exhibition is priced from 15,000 to 65,000 VND. If only visiting the main building, the ticket price is from 10,000 to 40,000 VND.

War Remnants Museum
The War Remnants Museum ranks 61st and is the only representative of Vietnam in the list of the 99 most attractive destinations in the world. The museum, located on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, was established in 1975, focusing on research, collection, preservation, and exhibition of the evidence of war crimes and the consequences of the wars of invasion of Vietnam. The museum preserves over 20,000 documents, artifacts, and photographs. Topics include Outdoor weapons display, Prison regime, Agent Orange, Historical truths, War crimes.
Museum entrance fee: 40,000 VND per person, free for children under 6 years old. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Saturdays and Sundays are open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Saigon Special Forces Museum
The Saigon Special Forces Museum is located on the second floor of a house built in 1963 on Tran Quang Khai Street, District 1. The house initially served as a secret base for the Saigon Special Forces under the management of Mr. Tran Van Lai (also known as Nam Lai). The museum has been operating since December 24, 2019, with an area of over 100 m2, displaying over 100 artifacts of the special forces soldiers. The items in the house remain intact and are arranged similarly to before. Visitors can watch short films about the Saigon special forces.
Visiting hours: from 7 AM to 10 PM every day of the week, free admission.

Ho Chi Minh City History Museum
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The museum is located at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, built according to the symmetrical design of architect Auguste Delaval and inaugurated in 1929. The wide corridor system, natural light from the courtyard, and the high windows avoid the hot and humid climate. The octagonal tower in the middle is painted gold, roofed with tiles attached to Asian decorative elements. The museum displays about 36,000 artifacts reflecting the history of the Vietnamese nation from prehistoric times to 1945. Additionally, the museum also showcases ancient cultures in Vietnam such as Oc Eo, Champa, Khmer.
Visiting hours: from 8 AM to 11:30 AM, and from 1 PM to 5 PM. Entrance fee: 30,000 VND per visit.

Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum
The museum is located at 97A Pho Duc Chinh, District 1, formerly a house of the Huỳnh family (commonly known as Uncle Hoa), one of the four great Saigon tycoons in the late 19th century. This is considered an attractive spot for art lovers and also attracts young visitors who love taking photos.
The museum is a building built in the architectural style of French architecture in the late 19th century and early 20th century, harmoniously combined with Eastern architecture in tiled roofing, ceramic-covered columns, and decorative patterns on roofs...
Visiting hours: from 8 AM to 5 PM every day of the week.

Historical Architectural Works

Central Post Office
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Located at Paris Square, District 1, the Central Post Office was built from 1886 to 1891. The building was designed by two French architects, Alfred Foulhoux and Henri Auguste Vildieu. After more than 100 years of existence, it is currently the largest post office in Vietnam still preserved with its original design. The vaulted ceiling, in the center decorated with the portrait of the god Mercury surrounded by a laurel wreath, symbolizes communication among mankind. The post office reminds one of the Orsay train station in Paris and is located alongside the Notre-Dame Cathedral, forming a special architectural cluster in the city.
Visiting hours: from 7 AM to 7 PM (Monday to Friday), 7 AM to 6 PM (Saturday), and 8 AM to 6 PM (Sunday).

City Theater
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The theater is located at 7 Lam Son Square, District 1. The building was designed by architect Eugène Feret and inaugurated in 1900, serving as a luxurious entertainment space in the city. The façade is influenced by the Petit Palais theater built in the same year in Paris. Notably, the theater is the only building in the city roofed with Ardoise tiles.
Visiting hours: from 9 AM to 4:30 PM (Monday to Friday) and from 9 AM to 12 PM (Saturday and Sunday).

Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Notre-Dame Cathedral is located in the center of District 1, one of the city’s symbols. The construction started in 1877 and was completed in 1880, designed by the French architect J. Bourad, with a Roman style combined with Gothic architecture. The interior of the cathedral is designed with one main aisle, two side aisles, and two rows of chapels. The length of the cathedral is 93 m, and its widest width is 35 m, accommodating 1,200 people. The front of the cathedral is a park with four intersecting roads forming a cross shape.
Visiting hours: from 8 AM to 11 AM and from 2 PM to 4 PM. However, since 2017, the cathedral has been undergoing repairs. The estimated completion date is 2027.

Suburban Attractions

Can Gio
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Can Gio is located about 50 km from the city center, featuring a variety of terrains including forests, mountains, and beaches, covering an area similar to Singapore, with many ecological tourism activities that can be experienced within a day. Can Gio is the only district in Ho Chi Minh City that borders the sea and is also the locality that has the first recognized world biosphere reserve mangrove forest in Vietnam.
Here, visitors will go to Can Gio Forest Park, take canoes through mangrove forests to visit the Rung Sac revolutionary base, explore the historical sites, and learn about the lives, battles, and achievements of special forces during the war; admire the natural monkeys, over 1,000 individuals; canoe on rivers to the Vam Sat ecological tourist area, row boats to explore bat conservation areas and catch crabs; visit bird and crocodile reserves, experience the thrill of fishing for crocodiles; conquer the Tang Bong tower 26 m high for a panoramic view of the mangrove forest.
In Can Gio, there is Hang Duong market, known as a "seafood paradise" with many types of shrimp, crab, snail, squid, etc., at affordable prices. You can choose among various shellfish, snails, crabs, crabs, shrimp, squid and ask the vendors to prepare them right on the spot at a cost of just a few tens of thousands for one dish.
Getting there: From the city center, head towards Tan Thuan Bridge, reach Binh Khanh Ferry and buy a ticket to cross the ferry. Visitors can travel by motorbike, car, or bus.

Cu Chi Tunnels
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Located about 70 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels (Cu Chi District) with a tunnel system stretching about 250 km is a stronghold of the Military Region's Party Committee, Saigon - Gia Dinh Command, contributing greatly to the country's reunification. Today, the tunnel relic is preserved in two areas: Ben Duoc (Phu My Hung commune) and Ben Dinh (Nhuan Duc commune), attracting visitors when coming to Ho Chi Minh City. Some tunnels have been renovated, with wider openings for visitor access.
Getting there: Bus number 13 departs from Ben Thanh Market directly to Cu Chi, taxi fare is about 500,000 VND per trip. If traveling by private car or motorbike, visitors follow National Highway 22 and then turn onto Provincial Road 15.

Markets

Ben Thanh Market
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Operating since 1914, located right in the city center, it is not only a bustling trading place but also a witness to history, witnessing countless changes, the ups and downs of the city, and being a meeting point between the old and new Saigon. Here, a variety of products concentrate, from clothing, shoes, fabrics, handicrafts, ethnic handicrafts, jewelry to specialty dishes.

Tan Dinh Market
Built in 1926, the main gate of the market has a unique design. It is also a trading venue for many items, notably fabrics and food. The culinary stall in this market has always been highly rated by guests due to its diverse, delicious, and attractive dishes such as noodle soup, crab soup, crab cake, fruit platters, and especially the famous chicken rice.

Binh Tay Market (Cho Lon)
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The market is located at the western gateway of the city, in the Chinatown district, and is always one of the highlights on the tourist map for many visitors. Operating since 1930, the market has been built with strong Asian architectural influences. The curved roof edges resemble pagodas, with yin-yang tiles, both ancient and airy. Binh Tay Market is also a wholesale center for a variety of items.

Cuisine

Ho Chi Minh City is a culinary melting pot of many regions and countries. Visitors can find dishes from all three regions, as well as distinct Chinese dishes, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Thai cuisine... or vegetarian dishes at a myriad of restaurants in the city. Signature dishes that visitors should try include: broken rice, hu tieu, banh mi, grilled snakehead fish, pancakes, burnt rice with dipping sauce.
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The following culinary streets are suggestions for first-time visitors to Ho Chi Minh City.

Phan Xich Long Street
Phan Xich Long Street in Phu Nhuan District is a hotspot for many restaurants, food stalls, and famous culinary brands. Here, visitors can find hot pot, grilled dishes, European-style restaurants, Japanese, Thai, Korean restaurants, and Vietnamese eateries. The 13 streets named after various flowers surrounding the main road of Phan Xich Long, such as Hoa Phuong, Hoa Lan, Hoa Hue, Hoa Mai, are also home to many coffee shops and rooftop bars that stay open until midnight.

Vinh Khanh Snail Street
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Snail dishes are a specialty of Ho Chi Minh City. You can find snail stalls all over the city, especially along Vinh Khanh Street in District 4, known for its famous snail and seafood stalls. These stores typically stay open until midnight, bustling with customers. Prices for snail dishes range from 80,000 to 150,000 VND per portion depending on the type of snail. Unlike Hanoi snails which are often prepared steamed with lemon grass and served with dipping sauce, snails in Ho Chi Minh City are prepared in various styles ranging from salted egg sauce to stir-fried with tamarind, grilled with chili salt, and stir-fried with satay.

Ho Thi Ky Food Street
The food street on Ho Thi Ky Street in District 10 is one of the hotspots attracting both tourists and locals. Open from 3 PM daily, over 100 stalls offer a wide variety of Asian and international dishes as well as many regional specialties from Vietnam. The street attracts diners with grilled skewers, lobster cooked with cheese, and octopus grilled with salt and chili. Prices for dishes range from 7,000 to 100,000 VND.

Nguyen Thuong Hien Food Street
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Nguyen Thuong Hien Food Street (from Dien Bien Phu Street to Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3) operates from 7 PM to 11 PM every day. On this stretch, there are more than 90 eateries along with over 50 clothing, shoe, and beauty shops. The street is famous for its dishes such as mixed rice paper, mixed shank meat, and grapefruit juice. Some stores also serve Cambodian-style dishes.

Ha Ton Quyen Dumpling Street
Ha Ton Quyen Street in District 11 is a famous address for Chinese dumplings, with shops lining both sides of the street. The area is always bustling with people, especially in the evening. The dishes here are diverse, including fried dumplings, dry (with oyster sauce), dumpling noodles, squid, mixed dishes, fish balls, pulled noodles at an average price of around 50,000 VND per portion. Customers often drive along the street, where waitstaff will invite them, guide them to free parking spots, and take their orders.

Notes

Be proactive in securing personal belongings in crowded places and while moving on the street.
Visitors should avoid going out during peak hours, from 8 AM - 9:30 AM and from 5:30 PM - 7 PM, as traffic congestion is likely.
It is advisable to check the route on the map to avoid one-way streets and car lanes, especially when moving by motorbike, particularly in the central area.
Ho Chi Minh City has many small interconnected alleys; visitors should avoid entering alleys if they are not familiar with the roads.

Source: https://vnexpress.net/cam-nang-du-lich-tp-hcm-4608205.html

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19/10/2023

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What to eat, what to play, where to go in Saigon in December - All you need to know in the Saigon travel guide 2023 from A-Z.